A doctor at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla, who allegedly assaulted a patient inside a hospital ward has been suspended indefinitely.
Social media was rife on Monday with viral videos of the doctor allegedly assaulting a patient in a ward at the hospital, following which the state government and hospital administration put the accused on suspension and also constituted a high-level inquiry committee.
The doctor has been asked to report to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Shimla headquarters, until further orders.
Speaking on the incident, Naresh Dashta, a relative of the patient, alleged that Arjun Pawar, a resident of Cheta village in the Kupi area of Chaupal had come to IGMC for an endoscopy procedure and was an IPD patient.
“The doctor gave him a date for an endoscopy. After the procedure, he was told that he was facing chest-related issues and was advised rest for two hours in the Pulmonary Department. When he went there and lay down on a vacant bed, hospital staff were fitting an oxygen mask,” Dashta said.
He alleged that a senior resident doctor named Raghav, and another doctor in the Pulmonary Department, started behaving rudely with the patient.
“They spoke badly with Arjun Pawar. He is a teacher and has never misbehaved with anyone. When he told the doctor that he had been referred there for rest, the doctor continued misbehaving. When Arjun requested him to speak politely, the doctor responded offensively,” Dashta said, adding that despite being put on oxygen, Arjun was beaten while another doctor held his legs.
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“You have seen in the video how a patient on oxygen, who was bedridden, was beaten. Another doctor held his legs, and the patient started bleeding. This is nothing short of an attempt to murder. We demand that the police register an attempt-to-murder case against the doctor,” he said.
Claiming that there have been complaints made previously against the erring doctor, Dashta warned of protests if strict action was not taken against the doctor.
“We demanded his suspension within an hour. If the police do not arrest him today, we will stage a protest outside the SP office. We want a fair inquiry committee with public representatives included. The patient is currently stable and undergoing treatment, but investigations are still going on,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rahul Rao, Medical Superintendent, IGMC Shimla, confirmed that the incident occurred in the Pulmonary Medicine Department when a patient came for a bronchoscopy.
“The patient had come for a bronchoscopy and was advised to rest for two hours after the procedure. He went to the ward. As per hospital protocol, only indoor admitted patients are allowed in the ward. During this time, there was an argument and some pushing between the senior resident doctor and the patient,” Dr. Rao said, adding that the matter was immediately brought to the notice of the Head of the Pulmonary Department, the Deputy Medical Superintendent, and other senior officials.
“The government took cognisance of the issue and directed us to take immediate action. As per the orders of the Chief Minister and Health Minister, we submitted our report to the government… The decision to suspend the doctor was taken within a few hours,” he said, and added that they were conducting the inquiry “in a fair and transparent manner, and no one will be protected”.
Dr. Rao also said that resident doctors who had gathered briefly outside the A-Block were dispersed after appeals from hospital authorities. “This is a large hospital, and we need cooperation from everyone. We are making every effort to ensure better patient care and transparency,” he said.
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